Bringing the past to life…

Book Review ~ ‘Into the Dim’ by Janet B. Taylor.

Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor
(Into the Dim #1)
Genres: Young Adult, Time-Travel
Release Date: March 1st 2016

SYNOPSIS

When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission . . . or the key to Hope’s undoing.

Book Review ~ ‘Into the Dim’ by Janet B. Taylor ~ 5 Stars!

Intriguing, exciting and beautifully written ‘Into the Dim’ took me on a journey where I could never guess what would happen next.

When I find a good time-travel story I lap it up, because it has to be done so carefully to work. With ‘Into the Dim’ it was the scientific elements mixed with folklore that had me believe in the characters travelling, and I loved how the author brought these elements to life, and twisted them to make a unique portrayal of this fantastical travel.

The author has a beautiful writing style which I think will really appeal to Young Adult readers. It gives enough gorgeous detail of the old manor in Scotland and the surrounding country, and the historical detail of the times gone past, without bogging down the reader. It all helped alighten my senses to these different worlds, without being hard work. She also brilliantly contrasted the modern day Scotland and the past London, so I felt as a reader than I had travelled along with the characters.

There is mystery and intrigue that will have you nervous for Hope and her companions, and a sweet, slow-burning romance that I can’t wait to see progress further in the next books, however above all else, it is a story of the strength of family, whether blood or not. Hope’s determination to save her mother is what will have you reaching for a box of tissues.

The only issue I had with this book, was actually not the fault of the author, but in marketing. Being described as ‘Outlander for Teens’ was actually very misleading, as ‘Into the Dim’ is an entirely different story. The only similarities I could see were the setting of Scotland, and the element of time-travel, but that was the extent of it. I really hope that this marketing decision won’t affect readers enjoyment of the book, and urge readers to not expect ‘Outlander’.

5 Stars!

*Review copy was kindly provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*